Mail-crane.



J. M. HOUGH.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1912.

1 ,O36,246, Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

WIT/v5 Es k James M. H003 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

JAMES MADISON HOUGH, OF WOODBINE, IOWA.

MAIL-CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. Hoocn, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of \Voodbine, in the county ofHarrison and State of lowayhave invented a new and Improved Mail-Crane,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' My invention relates to cranes adapted to be erected at the side of arailway track and having means for so holding the mail bag as to permitthe bag to be automatically taken up by a passing train.

. An object of my invention is to provide an improved crane of simpleconstruction, and involving minimum cost in its manufacture.

The invention will be particularly explained in the specific descriptionhereinafter to be given.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the crane and its appurtenances in theposition of holding a mail bag; and Fig. 2 is a similar view with theelements in inoperative position.

In constructing a practical embodiment of my invention as illustrated, apostv or standard 10 is provided, which may have an anchor piece 11 atthe lower end, the anchor being adapted to be inserted in the groundwith the upper end projecting for the attachment of the standard. Theanchor may have a concave face, and the standard may be round, as shown,bolts 12 being employed, or other expedients, to secure the standard tothe anchor. An upper arm 13 is pivoted, as at 14, to a shackle orbracket 15 secured to the standard 10, and a lower arm 16 maybesimilarly pivoted to a suitable bracket or shackle 17, secured to thestandard below the upper arm, said arms being in vertical alinement, orapproximately so. To raise the upper arm to the horizontal position, asinFig. 2, a pull rod 18' is provided, the upper end being connected bycord or other flexible'connection 19, which passes over a pulle or otherguide surface; 26 in the stan ard above. the upper arm, the end of thecord or flexible element being connected with the upper arm near theouter end, as at 21. The lower end of the pull rod is provided with asuitable handle and said connection with the said retaining" the saidtrip being actuated by the lower rod'may have suitable guided movementin eyes 23, or othercxpedients, the arrange? ment bcinir such thatthehandle ofthe pull- On the standard 10 below the upper arm I there issupported a retaining device to engage the pull rod and thereby hold heup- Patented Aug. 20, 1912. Application filed ma 16, 1912. Serial No.697.621.

per arm iaised, and a trip is provided in device,

arm when the latter drops to its lowered position. A pin 25 moves in atransverse hole 26 in the standard, and the outer end of the pin ispivoted to the lower end of a rocking lever 27, which is fulcrumedintermediate its ends in any suitable manner on the standard, as by apin 28 which passes through said lever intermediate its ends and througha shackle or bracket 29. The upper end of the lever extends to a pointwithin the path of movement of the lower bagholding arm when the latterdrops to the lowered position.

The upper and lower arms are provided with any suitable catches 31, 32,for engaging the usual loops 33 in a mail hag, 34. In the form shown,the catches are of twisted wire, loosely connected to eyes 35, 36 respectively on the mail bag, arm. It will be understood that any otherform of fastener may be employed in practice.

With the described construction, the upper arm is raised to thehorizontal position by drawing downward on the pull rod, and the saidrod is engaged with the described retaining device, the lower arm is nowraised, and the mail bag suitably held by the fastener. 'Upon the mailbag being taken up by the train, the lower arm will drop, and willstrike the upper end of the trip lever, and thus the pin 25 will be withdrawn from engagement with the pull rod, and allow the upper arm todrop.

Having thus described my inventionql claim as new and desire to secureby Let ters Patent:

In a mail crarrt", the combination'witli a standard, of an upper armpivoted to t he standard to rock in a vertical plane. a lower arm alsopivoted to the standard to rock in the vertical plane, and devices onsaid arms for engaging a mail bag, a flexible element connected atoneend with said upper arm, a pulley on the standard and over "whichguiding said pull rod, sald pull rod ter minating in an eye at its lowerend, a trans verse pin mounted to slide in the standard i v v naine-t'othis specification in and adapted to engage the eye on the said pull rodwhen the eye is in the lower position and the upper arm is raiSed astrapon said vstandard above the pin, and a vertically disposedleverfulcrumed between its ends on the said strap, the mentioned .pin

having the end adjacent to the lever con- .upper end of neeted with thelower'end of said lever, the

the lever being'iree and dis 15 posed in' the'path of movernent'of thelower bag-holding arm, to'be struck: by the said arm. I L In testimonywhereof I have signed my the presence of 20 two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MADISONHOUGH.

Witnesses:

E. E. Mons'n, R. J. MORSE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five (units each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. Q.

